The Volunteer

Documentary about a volunteer female firefighter balancing her day job with the demands of serving her community (currently under production)

Nikolett Darázs is a Hungarian volunteer firefighter who navigates institutional prejudice in a system where she receives no compensation for her work while her male counterparts are paid for performing the same duties. The film follows Nikolett's daily routine, narrated in her own words. Beginning at 5:30 am as she heads to her 8-hour day job, the documentary captures the rhythm of her everyday life. While this job provides her livelihood, she spends her remaining hours fulfilling her unpaid responsibilities as a volunteer firefighter. As she sips her morning coffee, she reflects on the thoughts and images still lingering from the previous night’s emergency call, offering an intimate glimpse into the challenges, sacrifices, and motivations that shape her commitment. From there, the film follows her into the demanding world of firefighting and through some of the most trying moments of her life, documenting shifts that can stretch to 12 hours.